Romney drops out of U.S. presidential race

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has dropped out of the race for the White House. This means John McCain is now almost certain to be the Republican nominee. There are still two other Republican contenders, but both Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul

Romney spent millions of his own money on the campaign but fell well behind front-runner John McCain after Super Tuesday's primaries.

The Harvard University graduate has had a varied career, beginning life as a businessman before becoming governor of Massachusetts.

Much of the attention he attracted during his campaign, however, focused on his Mormon religion – a faith regarded with suspicion by many Americans.